Canceling



Y Z/ZZ 721-66666 (No Model.) J

GANGELING, FBBDING, AN No. 503,025.

Q ADAMS eeeeeeeeeeeeeee D LOGKING DEVICE FOR BALLOT BOXES.

Patented Aug. 8,1893.

(No Model.) e sheets-sheet 2.

J.Q. ADAMS. GANGELING, EEEDING, A-ND LOCKING DEVICE FOR BALLOT BOXES.l1\Io.5o3,o25. Patented Aug. 8, '1893.

x Ziggy?.

V92-Zorn@ 6 Sheets-Shee't 8.

(No Model.) l

n l J. Q. ADAMS. E GANGELING, FEEDING, AND LOCKING DEVICE FOR BALLOTBOXES. No. 503,025.

.Patented Aug. 8, 1893.

mllllllumnnmm"In,...A

llllllllllllllIllllllllllllllll 6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

J. Q. ADAMS. GANGELING, PBEDING, AND LOGKING DEVICE PoR BALLOT BOXES.

No. 503,025. Patented Aug. 8, 1898.

n Ww.

(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

, V J. Q. ADAMS. CANCEL-ING, EEEDING, AND LOCKING DEVIGE EDE BALLOTBOXES. No. 503,025. Patented Aug. 8, 1893.

(No Mdel.) 6 sheets-sheet 6.

J. Q. ADAMS. GANCELING, FEBDING, AND LOCKING DEVICE FOR BALLOTBOXES. N.503,025. Patented Aug. 8, 1893.

A l Q a E. Y*

wnzsses f Q. /nvezzor UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN Q. ADAMS, OF NEVTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

CANCELING,FEED|NG, AND LOCKING DEVICE FOR BALLOT-BOXES.

SPECIFICATION forming part o f Letters Patent No. 503,025, dated. August8, 1893.

Application iiled October 24, 1892. Serial No. 449,807, (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Q. ADAMS, acitizen o f the United States,residing at Newton, in the countyof Middlesex and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBallot Boxes or Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in ballotboxes or machines for election districts; and it consists substan tiallyin such features of arrangement, construction and combinations of parts,as will hereinafter be more particularly described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to provide a ballot box or machine whichwhen closed previous to the insertion of aballot shall remain normallylocked against movement or operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ballot box or machinewhich when opened shall also become automatically locked against furthermovement or operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ballot box or machinethe openingand closing of which shall automatically effect the lockingof the same in either position, the release of one set of lockingdevices simultaneously effecting engagement of the other, and viceversa.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ballot box or machinewhich when closed shall remain normally locked previous to the insertionor introduction of a ballot, but which shall be prevented from becomingso locked when a ballot is introduced and the machine closed down uponthe same.

A further object of the invention is to effectually guard against aballot being pushed or forced through the machine when the latter isopen.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ballot box or machinewhich when closed down upon a ballot and once started into operationcannot be opened until the machine has completed the Work ofcancellation of such ballot.

-A further object of the invention is to provide a ballot box or machinewhich shall open automatically on completing the cancellation of aballot, so as to be ready to receive the next ballot, and so on.

A further object of the invent-ion is to provide a ballot box or machinewhich when opened cannot be made to operate without first inserting orintroducing a ballot and closing the machine down upon the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ballot box or machinewhich is not liable to get out of order, and one which shall be composedof a comparatively few parts.

A -further object of the invention is to provide a ballot box or machinewhich shall become automatically locked against movement when eitheropened or closed,the act of opening the same setting into operation thedevices which lock it when open, and the act of closing the saineeffecting the release of such devices and engaging the devices whichlock the box or machine when closed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a ballot box ormachine, the parts of which shall at no time be permitted to reverse ormove backwardly. Thus whenever a ballot has been inserted or introducedand the machine started it will be impossible to reverse the machine forthe purpose of withdrawal of such ballot or otherwise.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a ballot box ormachine which shall be incapable of canceling more than one ballot at asingle operation no matter how many of such ballots may be attempted tobe passed through at the same time.

The above objects I attain by the means illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings wherein- Figure l represents a longitudinal side elevation of aballot box or machine constructed and arranged in accordance with myinvention, the said figure illustrating the position of the severaloperative parts when the machine is closed and no ballot containedwithin the same. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine when the sameis viewed from the front or forward end. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsectional elevation of the boxor machine, taken on the line x, oc, ofFig. 2, the said iigure representing the position of the parts as beingthe same as in Fig. 1, or in other words when the machine is closed.Fig. 4 is a similar view to the preceding figure, except that the partsare shown in the positions they occupy when the machine is open ready toreceive a ballot. Fig. 5 is a top or plan view of the machine when open,the parts being in the same positions as inthe preceding figure. Fig.Gis a transverse sectional elevation, taken on the lines y, y, and a, e,of Figs. l and 5 respectively. Figs. 7 and S are views in detail to moreclearly indicate the construction of several minor features of theinvention.

In carrying my invention into effect I provide a suitable mainsupporting frame in which the several operative parts of the box ormachine are mounted, and the entire machine is intended to be placedupon or in proximity to a suitable receptacle for catching or receivingthe ballots as they are successively passed through the machine andcanceled.

In the accompanying drawings theletterA wherever it occurs designatesthe main supporting frame which is provided with suitable legs, asshown, and which, as also shown is properly connected together bysuitable brace rods a. Having its bearings between the two sides of saidframe at near the forward end thereof is a rotating ballot feeding andcanceling drum or cylinder B, one end of the shaft of which is providedwith a crank C to enable said drum or cylinder to be turned by hand; andlikewise on this projecting end of the said shaft is mounted or carrieda ratchet wheel D, which is engaged by a pawl E pivoted to the side ofthe frame, which pawl preven ts any retrograde or backward turning ofthe cylinder at any time duringthe use of the machine. rihe said drum orcylinder is divided longitudinally into three sections l, 2 and 3, Figs.2, 5 and 6 leaving spaces 4 and 5, between the inner section and the twoouter sections thereof for a purpose hereinafter more fully described.

A segment is cut out of the outer rim or edge of one of the outersections of the cylinder or drum as shown at b, so as to accommodate theproper working of the longitudinally movable or reciprocating rackhereinafter more specifically referred to, while at ,the points 6, 6,and 7, 7, of the remaining portions of such rims suitable notches areformed which are engaged at certain times in the movement of thecylinder by separate or independent sets of locking devices which alsowill hereinafter be more fully described. Attached or secured to saiddrum or cylinder at the proper point is the canceling die which cancelsthe ballots as they are fed through the machine; and located above thecylinder is an impression roller F which in operation revolves in anopposite direction tothe cylinder and serves to feed the ballot throughthe machine so that the proper cancellation is effected by contact withthe die. The said impression roller F is likewise divided longitudinallyinto three separate sections 8, 9 and 10, leaving spaces ll and l2between them corresponding to and for a similar purpose as the spaces 4and 5 between the sections of the cylinder. The impression roller ismounted in vertically elongated bearings c in the sides of the mainframe, as shown in Fig. l, so as to be capable of rising and fallingvertically with respect to the drum or cylinder. The purpose in havingsaid roller vertically movable is to cause the same to be lifted at theproper time to admit the entrance of a ballot between the cylinder B andthe impression roller each time the machine is opened for that purpose.

Secured to the top of the main supporting frame is a table, bed orplatform G, having a depressed or sunken portion H, into which is snuglyreceived a rising and falling or vertically operatiug iiap or door I,when the machine is closed; the said door or flap being mounted upon orsecured to a rocking-shaft J extending across the top of the box ormachine in suitable bearings, as shown. The said rocking-shaft isprovided at near each of its ends with a gear wheel e which mesh withsimilar wheels f, f, mounted on small stubshafts g, g, projectinginwardly from the sides of the main frame, as shown, the said Wheels f,f having attached or secured to their inner sides small cams 7L, h,Figs. 3 and 4, while to the outer sides thereof are likewise attachedadditional but somewhat larger cams or eccentrics 1', z'.

It is when the door or iiap I is raised that the machine is said to beopen and when down to be closed; and I prefer to so arrange and lcombinethe parts of the machine that each time a ballot is passed to themachine the latter shall be left in its open position and ready toreceive another ballot. The means for effecting this result I will nowdescribe.

J represents a longitudinally movable or reciprocating rack-bar which isslotted at j for almost its entire length so-as to be supported by andmovable ou the pins k, 7a, projecting inwardly from the sides of themain frame in a plane beneath the edges of the gear Wheels referred to.Pendent from the under side of said rack bar is a toe Z which is engagedfrom the rear each time the cylinder is turned, by an eccentric piu mprojecting from the end of said cylinder, so that when the cylinder isturned until the cut-out portion b thereof is reached the rack bar willbe moved forward by contact with said pin m, and in this waythe gearwheels will be started and the hinged or rising and falling flap I willbe raised or elevated. During this operation of raising the Ilap thecams t', t', 011 the wheels f,f, will be brought around in such manneras to take under the spindle of the impression roller and the result isthat such roller is lifted or elevated in its bearings Fig. 4. Onturning the flap downwardly into the sunken portion of the table theoperation is the reverse and the parts are restored to their formerpositions Figs. l and 3.

It is desirable that the machine should be IOC IIO

locked so that it is impossible to turn the canceling cylinder wheneverthe flap is lowered or closed down, without a ballot having been firstinserted into the machine in position to be passed through the same andcanceled; it is also desirable that the impression cylinder should notbe locked whenever the flap or door I is turned down after a ballot VIohas been put in position upon the table G to be fed through the machineand canceled; it is also desirable that there should be provided meansfor preventing a ballot being passed through the machine,-between thecanceling and the impression rollers,-when the machine stands open, andI have provided guards for this purpose which however are automaticallymoved away when the ballot is being fed to the machine in the properway. I will now proceed to describe the means whereby the machine ismade to possess the desirable features just referred to.

Supported loosely upon the rocking-shaft .I and extending forwardly ofthe machine so as to embrace as it were the two ends of the impressionroller, are two arms n, n, the ends of which are turned inwardly at 0,0,Figs. 2 and 5 so as to form catches for taking into or engaging thenotches (i, G, of the cylinder when the latter is in the positionindicated in Figs. l and 3 of the drawings. Vthen the arms are thusengaged with the cylinderit is evident that the machinecannot beoperated or turned. Consequentlyno ballot can be introduced or insertedand passed through the machine until the cylinder is unlocked and theflap I is raised. rlhe act of raising the said flap (which may beeffected by means of a handle K) causes the cams 7i, h, on the innersides of the gears f,f, to take under the said arms n, mand lift thesame free of the notches, whereupon a ballot may be introduced into thesunken portion of the table, the flap lowered down thereon or closed,and the machine started. The raising of the ap I operates, through thecam z', to lift the impression roller F so that the end of the ballotcan beinserted between the impression roller and the cylinder B, but theguards (to be presently described) prevent the ballot being introducedtoo far into the machine. When said ap is closed down upon a ballot, thelocking arms n, n, will not be permitted to descend far enough to againtake into the notches 6, G, on account of the thickness of such ballotpreventing the Hap from fully entering the recessed portion II of thetable and completing the closing of the machine. The ballot beingproperly inserted, its forward end will extend underneath the impressionroller and beneath a pair of fingers pp, extending into the spacebetween the sections of such roller, and which fingers are supported orheld by a rod orstrip q which connects the two ends of said locking armsm, m in the manner shown. The said lingers are hooked or curveddownwardly, as shown in Fig. 7, so that when they are lowered down torest upon the ballot the arms will not be permitted to descend all theway as will be apparent. In the absence of a ballot the said fingerswill be permitted to descend into the spaces ft and 5 of the cylinderthus carrying the said locking arms into engagement with the cylinder.

Extending across the front of the machine between the sides of the mainframe is a rocking shaft M on which is carried a pair of guards s, s,which when the machine is closed or the iiap lowered occupy a positionaway from the cylinder or drum, as shown in Fig. 3; but which when themachine is opened or the flap raised are caused to turn inwardly andrest upon said cylinder, as shown in Fig. 4, and when in this positionserve to prevent a ballot from being passed through the machine withoutbeing canceled. These guards are th us operated through the mediu m of ahooked arm or crank t Figs. 2, 3 and 4 carried by the said shaft M, andwhich engages with a correspondingly shaped extension u of thelongitudinally movable or reciprocating rack-bar .I hereinbeforereferred to. As the said rackbar moves outwardly in the act of raisingthe flap, the described connection between said bar and rockshaft willcause the latter to be rocked or turned inwardly, while on the return orinward movement of said rack-bar the said shaft will be again rockedoutwardly, it being evident that the guards will raise and loweraccording to the direction in which the shaft is rocked. By virtue ofthe said guards being thus made to rest upon the drum or cylinder whenthe machine is open it will be apparent that no ballot can be passedover the cylinder or through the machine.

In addition to effecting a locking of the parts while the machine isclosed it also is desirable that the same shall be locked when themachine is opened, and consequently I resort to the use of additionallocking devices beneath or on the under side'of the machine. rlhe saiddevices consist of a rockshaft o Figs. 1, 3 and 4: having its bearingsin the sides of the main frame, and which is formed or provided withcatches w, w, which when the flap I is raised or the machine opened,take into or engage the notches 7, 7, Fig. 4 of the cylinder. The saidshaft is provided with a weighted lever P so that the said catches willbe caused to gravitate into place whenever suoli notches are reached.

Movably attached to the sides of the gear wheels e, e, are movable rodsor strips w', w', which are bifurcated or slotted, as shown in Figs. 3and 4, and which work or move upon cranks or wrist pins lr, Qc, carriedby an additional rock-shaft Q also havings its bearings in the sides ofthe main frame, and which is located immediately alongside of orparallel to the rocking'shaft o.

Carried by the shaft Q about centrally of its length is a toe y whichnormally bears against or presses forward on a collar ,e adjustablysecured around a rod R, which is supported in bearings on the under sideof IOO IIO

the table or platform, and which rod is held against the toe y by theweighted lever D, and is capable of a slight reciprocating movement in alongitudinal direction. The resistance offered by the toe y to the freemovement of the rod R causes the inner end of the latter to hold up theweighted lever P and thus throw the lower or weighted end of said leveroutward normally; and as the said collar is adjustable on its rod it isevident that the action of the weighted lever P can be varied asoccasion may require. `When the ap l is raised causing the wheels c tomove the catches w, fw, will be caused to enter the notches 7, 7, byreason of the connecting rods or strips w', w', moving upward on thewrist pins Qc, a2, of the shaft Q; and when the flap is again loweredthe said rods or strips will again move downwardly until the ends oftheir slots are reached whereupon the pins fr, will be pushed slightlydownward, causing the shaft Q to partially turn or rock in its bearings,thereby pushing the inner end of rod lt against the upwardly projectingportion of the lever P and throwing the lower weighted end of the latteroutward and releasing the catches w, w, from the notches 7, 7.

As shown in Fig. l, I employ in connection with my improved ballot boxor machine an alarm or signal which is made to sound each time a ballothas been passed through and canceled, and, as before stated, I alsocontemplate the use of a suitable registering device; this latterhowever is not herein shown and need not be referred to.

The alarm or signal consists of a bell or gong A secured to one side ofthe main frame, as shown in Fig. l, andaclapper B having its stempivoted also to the frame at a and having the inner end of such stemresting beneath the free and curved end c of a rising and falling leverd also pivoted to the side of the frame at c. A stud f projects from theside of the ratchet-wheel D,and is so arranged relatively to theposition ofthe cylinder when turned around to its fullest extent as tocome beneath the lever d when the cylinder is turned, and cause the saidlever to be momentarily lifted and again dropped into its place of restupon the projecting end of the cylinder-shaft. This action will causethe outer end of the clapper stem to fall a short distance as the end ofthe lever is lifted, or in other words the inner end of said stem willfollow such lever in its upward movement. As soon as the stud has passedhowever, the fall of the lever will carry the clapper foreibly againstthe gong, thereby sounding the signal and giving notice of thecancellation of a ballot.

The canceling die is kept constantly supplied with ink from a roller mFigs. l and 8 which is contained in a semi-cylindrical case n (seedetail view Fig. 8) that is supported and held in place by means of ahollow guide or holder 0. The said holder is open on the side contiguousto the die so that a fresh inked surface of said roller shall bepresented to or caused to contact with the die as the cylinder isturned; and the said case is notched or cut out slightly as shown at pso as to receive the correspondinglyshaped lip q formed with the holder.By inserting the ease in the holder and partially turning the former thelip q will enter the notch p and thus effeet a locking of the said casein place and prevent the same from working out. To remove the case it issimply necessary to turn the same back until free whereupon the same maybe drawn out. The holder o is loosely suspended from the rock-shaft 'uand is held in yielding contact with the die by means of suitableweights P', as shown.

In thus describing my invention it will be understood that I do not wishto be limited to the precise details of construction and arrangementshown, since various modifications and changes could be resorted to andstill come within the scopeintended to be covered.

The operation is as follows: As will be understood, when the machine isclosed previous to the insertion of a ballot the upper set of lockingdevices referred to will be in engagement with the cylinder, and thelatter will be prevented from rotating or turning. To introduce orinsert a ballot, the flap I is raised, whereupon the said upper set oflocking devices will be released, the lower set of locking devices willbecome engaged with such cylinder in the manner described, and lock thesame, the impression roller will be raised, and the guards s will bebrought into position to prevent the ballot from being passed throughthe machine. W hen the ballot is inserted or introduced into the sunkenportion of the table the flap is again lowered, and by reason of theposition of the ballot upon the table which prevents the iiap frommoving downward to its full extent, and further by reason of thearrangement of the fingers t which are brought down to rest upon theballot the said upper set of locking devices will not become engaged atthis time. This lowering of the Hap causes the lower set of lockingdevices to be moved to disengage the cylinder, and the guards s to bemoved away from in front thereof. The cylinder is then turned by meansof its crank, whereupon the ballot is carried through and canceled. Asthe cylinder completes its rotation the liap is raised and the box isopened by reason of the pin m operating upon the intermediate mechanismwhich is connected with the flap.

From the construction and arrangement shown and described it will beseen that no matter how many ballots may be inserted or introducedtogether only one of the same will be canceled at each operation of themachine, and the 011e so canceled will be on the under side.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

IOO

IIO

l. In a ballot box or machine, the combination of the support upon whichthe ballot is placed and roller or cylinder for feeding the ballotthrough the machine, a movable flap adapted to move toward and from thesupport for the ballot and the lock for the roller or cylinder connectedwith the said flap, the parts being disposed as described whereby Whenthe ballot is upon its support the flap cannot be moved down thereoninto position to lock the roller or cylinder, substantially as setforth.

2. In a ballot box or machine a table or support for the ballot having`a sunken portion H into which the ballot is placed, and a movable flapadapted to [it closely in the said sunken portion when it is empty andto be obstructed and prevented from entering therein when a ballot isplaced therein, substantially as described. Y

3. In a ballot box or machine, a table or support for receiving aballot, a hinged or movable fiap closing down upon said ballot, meansfor feeding the ballot through the machine and means operative from theballot feeding mechanism for automatically raising or elevating saidiiap, substantially as described.

4. In a ballot box or machine, a table or support having a sunkenportion for receiving a ballot, a hinged or movable flap closing downupon such ballot, a revolving drum or cylinder, which operates to feedthe ballot to the machine and intermediate mechanism for automaticallyraising said iiap on a single revolution of said drum or cylinder,substantially as described.

5. In a ballot box or machine, a table or support adapted to close downupon the ballot, a hinged or movable flap, a revolving cylinder,intermediate mechanism for automatically elevating the iiap, and meansfor locking said cylinder against movement when the flap is down,substantially as described.

6. In a ballot box or machine, a table or support adapted to close downupon the ballot, a hinged or movable flap, a revolving drum or cylinder,intermediate mechanism for automatically lifting the flap on revolutionof the cylinder, and means for locking said cylinder after completingsuch revolution, substantially as described.

7. In a ballot box or machine, a table or support adapted to close downupon the ballot, a hinged or movable flap, a revolving drum or cylinder,intermediate mechanism for automatically elevating the Hap, and meansfor separately locking said cylinder against movement when the flap isboth raised and lowered, substantially as described.

8. In a ballot box or machine, a table or support adapted to close downupon the ballot, a hinged or movable iiap, a revolving drum or cylinder,and intermediate mechanism for elevating the flap, consisting ofopposite pairs of gear Wheels, and a longitudinally movable rack bar,operated by a pin on the cylinder, substantially as described. l

9. In a ballot box or machine, a table or support for the ballot, arock-shaft carrying a iiap which closes down upon the ballot, arevolving cylinder, and locking devices supported on the shaft whichengage with said cylinder when the flap is down, substantially asdescribed.

lO. In a ballot box or machine, a table or support for the ballot, arock shaft carrying a iiap which closes down upon the ballot, arevolving cylinder provided with notches in its edges, and movablelocking arms formed with catches which enter the notches of the cylinderwhen the flap is down, substantially as shown and for the purposedescribed.

ll. In a ballot box or machine, the combination with the support for theballot, the movable flap, the cylinder, and the locking arms whichengage the cylinder when the movable flap is down, of the fingerssupport` ed by said arms and which serve to prevent engagement of thesame whenever a ballot is properly inserted, substantially as described.

l2. In a ballot box or machine, the combination with the support for theballot, the movable flap, the cylinder, and the locking arms whichengage the cylinder when the movable flap is down, of means for raisingor elevating said arms, simultaneously with the raising of such flap,substantially as described.

13. In a ballot box or machine, a table or support having a sunkenportion, a hinged or movable flap closing down into such portion, arevolving cylinder, intermediate gearing the connections between theflap and the intermediate gearing and a rack-bar operated by saidcylinder, a vertically movable impression roller, and means forelevating such roller simultaneously with the raising of the Hap,substantially as described.

11i. In a ballot box or machine, the combination of the revolvingcylinder, the impression cylinder mounted in bearings which are movabletoward and from the said cylinder, a movable flap by means of which thebox is opened and closed and connections between the flap and theimpression roller whereby the latter is moved toward and from thecylinder as the Hap is moved to open and close the box, substantially asset forth.

l5. In a ballot box or machine, a table or support having a sunkenportion, a rockingshaft carrying a hinged or movable flap folding downinto such portion, the gear wheels also carried by said shaft, thcadditional gear wheels supported on the stub shafts and carrying cams oreccentrics on their sides, the revolving cylinder, the rack-bar operatedby said cylinder, and the impression roller l0- cated above the cylinderin vertically elongated beariugs, substantially as described.

1G. In a ballot box or machine, the combination with the cylinder andthelooking arms IOO IIO

therefor connected by a rod or strip, of the inwardly projecting lingerssupported by said strip and adapted to rest upon a ballot when the sameis inserted, and thereby hold the locking arms out of operative positionsubstantially as and for the purpose described.

17. In a ballot box or machine the combination with the cylinder, of theguards which prevent the ballot from passing the cylinder when thelatter is at rest, and automatic connections whereby`the guards areremoved from the path of the ballot when it is placed in themachine,substantially as set forth.

18. In a ballot box or machine, a table or support having a sunkenportion, a hinged or movable ilap closing down into such portion, arevolving cylinder, intermediate mechanism for elevating the flap on asingle revolution of the cylinder, and means for engaging or lockingsaid cylinder' when so revolved, substantially as described.

19. In a ballot box or machine, a table or support having a sunkenportion, a hinged or movable flap closing down into such portion, arevolving cylinder, means for locking the cylinder when the flap isdown, intermediate mechanism for elevating the flap on a singlerevolution of the cylinder, and means for engaging or locking saidcylinder after the same has been so revolved, substantially asdescribed.

20. In a ballot box or machine, a table or support, a hinged or movableflap closing down on said table, means for automatically raising saidflap, the revolving cylinder having the notches 6, 6, and 7, 7, and alsohaving a portion of its rim cut ont on one end, the upper set of lockingdevices engaging said notches 6, (3, when the flap is down, and thelower set of locking devices which engage the notches 7, 7, when theflap is raised, substantially as described.

2l. In a ballot box or machine, the table or support having the stinkenportion, a hinged or removable flap closing down into such portion, therevolving cylinder having the notches 7, 7, intermediate mechanism forantomatically raising the flap, weighted or gravitating catches forengaging the notches when the flap is raised, and means forautomatically releasing sueh catches, when the iap is lowered,substantially as described.

22. In a ballot box or machine, the combination of the table or support,the hinged or movable ap, the revolving cylinder and intermediatemechanism for au tomatically raising the flap, the weighted orgravitating catches for engaging said cylinder when the ap is raised,and devices for releasing or throwingthe catches out of engagement whenthe flap is lowered, substantially as described.

23. In a ballot box or machine, the combination with the revolvingcylinder, and the intermediate gearing operated thereby, of the slottedarms connected to such gearing, the rock-shaft carrying the weightedlever and the catches for engaging the cylinder, the additionalrock-shaft carrying the cranks upon which the slotted arms work, andalso having the toe centrally arranged thereon, and the rod R workingagainst said weighted lever and operated by said toe, substantially asdescribed.

24. In a ballot box or machine the ink roller contained in asemi-cylindrical case formed with the notch in the lower edge of itsopen portion, and the loosely suspended holder for said case, the samebeing formed with the lip for engaging such notch, substantially asshown and for the purpose described.

25. In a balloting machine, the combination of the shafts c carrying thecatches and weighted lever, the shaft Q carrying the cranks or wristpins as well as the centrally arranged toe, and the rod R having theadjustable collar, substantially as described.

26. In a ballot box or machine, the combination with the main frame andrevolving cylinder, of the gong or bell, the pivoted lever normallyresting upon the end of the cylinder-shaft and having its free endcurved upwardly, the clapper pivoted to theside of the casing with itsstem engaging beneath the free end of the lever, and means for impartinga lifting action to the lever each time the cylinder is revolved,substantially as dcscribed.

27. In a balloting machine, the combination with the longitudinallymovable or reciprocating rack-bar having the hooked extension, of therock-shaft arranged at the forward end of the machine and carrying theguards, and the hooked arm or crank engaging the extension of said bar,substantially as shown and for the purpose described.

28. In a balloting machine, the combination of the cylinder B, theimpression roller, the cylinder and roller being longitudinally dividedinto a numberof sections with spaces between them, the movable guardsadapted to be moved into the said spaces in the path of the ballot tointercept the same when the cylinder and the roller are at rest andconnections whereby the guards are removed from the path of the ballotwhen the cylinder and roller are revolved, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN Q. ADAMS.

Witnesses:

H. T. BRIDGE, Gno. S. HALL.

